U-Roy at Open East Festival in 2013 (Photo by Véronique Skelsey)
There has been an outpouring of tributes from the Jamaican music fraternity on social media, following the passing of U-Roy, the man responsible for birthing the Dancehall genre.
The Dancehall pioneer, born Ewart Beckford in Kingston, and popularly known as Daddy U Roy died Wednesday night in Kingston at age 78, after ailing for some time.
U-Roy who is an awardee of the Jamaican Order of Distinction for his pioneering musical exploits, is renowned for coining the iconic phrase “Wake The Town and tell The People.”
Shaggy and Sean Paul were among the first Dancehall artists to pay tribute on their Instagram pages, following the announcement of U-Roy’s passing.
Outspoken dancehall selector, and diehard People s National Party (PNP) supporter, Ricky Trooper, has come out in staunch defence of Entertainment Minister Olivia Babsy Grange, whose ministry is under the microscope over the findings of an audit report on the operations of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).
In a lengthy social media address, drenched with phrases like low her and oonu fi gweh, Trooper flung his full support behind Grange, who represents the governing Jamaica Labour Party. He told
THE STAR that he was motivated to speak his mind, because none of dem never fight fi dancehall music like Babsy Grange and also said that he refused to play politics with the music and watch people tarnish her name.